Harrow: You didn’t have to wound that man.
Mal: Yeah, I know, it was just funny.
Harrow: You willing to fight that hard to protect my property, I’ll have it in your hold before midnight. (shakes hands with Mal and leaves)
Mal: (to Inara) Mighty fine shindig.
Firefly — Episode 4 — “Shindig”
Atherton: Inara. Inara!
Harrow: You’ve lost her lad. Be gracious.
Atherton: You set this up, whore. After I bought and paid for you. I should have uglied you up so much no one else’d want you.
Mal: See how I’m not punching him? I think I’ve grown.
Atherton: Well get ready to starve. I’ll see that you never work again.
Inara: Actually, that’s not how it works. You see, you’ve earned yourself a black mark in the client registry. No Companion is ever going to contract with you, ever again.
Harrow: You’ll have to rely on your winning personality to get women. God help you.
Firefly — Episode 4 — “Shindig”
Harrow: He’s down. You have to finish it, lad. You have to finish it. For a man to lie beaten, and yet breathing? It makes him a coward.
Inara: It’s humiliation.
Mal: Sure, it’s humiliating. Having to lie there while the better man refuses to spill your blood. Mercy is the mark of a great man. (lightly stabs Atherton in the stomach) Guess I’m just a good man. (stabs him again) Well, I’m all right.
Firefly — Episode 4 — “Shindig”
Mal: I thought he made it pretty clear he has no regard for you.
Inara: You did manage to push him into saying something, yes. Made a nice justification for the punch.
Mal: Well, he insulted you. I hit him. Seemed like the thing to do. Why’d this get so complicated?
Inara: Well, it’s about to get simpler. There’s a back door. Desk clerk is on alert. He’ll let us out.
Mal: Whoa, whoa, I’m not running off. I don’t know what you got in your head, but I didn’t do this to prove some kind of point to you. I thought I was defending your honor. And I never back down from a fight.
Inara: Yes, you do! You do all the time!
Mal: Well, yeah… but, I’m not backing down from this one.
Firefly — Episode 4 — “Shindig”
Atherton: I accept.
Mal: That’s great! What?
Gentleman: There has been a challenge.
Atherton: I hope you’re prepared, Captain.
Mal: What? You all talking about a fight? That’s fine. Let’s get out of here.
Inara: It’s not a fist fight, Mal.
Gentleman: The duel will be met tomorrow morning at Cadrie Pond.
Mal: Well, why wait? Where’s that guard? He collected a whole mess of pistols.
Gentleman: If you require it, any gentleman here can give you use of a sword.
Mal: Use of a sw—what?
Firefly – Episode 4 – “Shindig”
(Mal collides with Inara while dancing.)
Mal: It’s possible you were right, and this ain’t mykind of party.
(Atherton grabs Inara by the arm and marches her away.)
Mal: Whoa now. Watch yourself. Ain’t no need for hands on.
Atherton: Excuse me, she’s not here with you, Captain. She’s mine.
Mal: Yours? She don’t belong to nobody.
Atherton: Money changed hands, which makes her mine tonight. And no matter how you dress her up she’s still a…
(Mal decks Atherton.)
Mal: Turns out this is my kind of party!
Firefly – Episode 4 – “Shindig”
Harrow: Whom do you represent?
Mal: “Represent” isn’t exactly the…
Harrow: Don’t waste my time.
Mal: Fellow called Badger.
Harrow: I know him. And I think he’s a psychotic low-life.
Mal: And I think calling him that is an insult to the psychotic low-life community.
Firefly – Episode 4 – “Shindig”
Mal: Okay, help me find our man. He’s supposed to be old, kinda stocky, wears a red sash crossways.
Kaylee: Why does he do that?
Mal: Maybe he won the Miss Persephone Pageant. Just help me look.
Kaylee: (pointing) Is that him?
Mal: That’s the buffet table.
Kaylee: Well how can we be sure, unless we question it?
Mal: Fine. Don’t make yourself sick.
Kaylee: Oh, xiè xiè [“thank you”], Captain.
Firefly – Episode 4 – “Shindig”
Mal: Does.. um.. does this seem kind of tight?
Kaylee: Shows off your backside. Did you see the chandelier? It’s hovering!
Mal: What’s the point of that, I wonder?
Kaylee: Oh! Mangoes!
Mal: I mean, I see how they did it. I just ain’t getting the why.
Kaylee: These girls have the most beautiful dresses. And so do I — how about that?
Mal: Yeah, well, just be careful. We cheated Badger out of good money to buy that frippery, and you’re supposed to make me look respectable.
Kaylee: Yes, sir, Captain Tightpants.
Firefly – Episode 4 – “Shindig”
Badger: He won’t deal with me direct. He’s taken an irrational dislike.
Jayne: What happened? He see your face?
Badger: He’s a quality gent. Nose in the air like he never wun gwo pee [“smelled a fart”]. Don’t find me respectable. But you, now I figure you got a chance.
Mal: You backed out of a deal last time. Left us hanging.
Jayne: Hurt our feelings.
Mal: You recall why that took place?
Badger: Had a problem with your attitude is why. Felt you was… what’s the word?
Jayne: Pretentious?
(Mal gives Jayne a confused/surprised look)
Badger: Exactly! You think you’re better than other people.
Mal: Just the ones I’m better than.
Firefly – Episode 4 – “Shindig”
The Love Pirate 